It’s crunch time in the Armagh SFC with just eight teams remaining

All four SFC Quarter-finals are taking place at The Box-It Athletic Grounds this weekend, and we have all the action covered.

Friday September 19 (7.30pm): St Patrick’s Cullyhanna v St Peter’s

St Patrick’s Cullyhanna have been one of the most in-form teams of the competition, and they boast one of the most in-form players, Aidan Nugent, who has top scored in the Championship with 3-22.

Stephen Reel’s side have won all three games, but they have had to overcome adversity, having lost their captain Pearse Casey to a serious injury in Round Two against Mullaghbawn.

Ross McQuillan was the stand-out in their crucial Round One win over Madden, a result which ultimately secured top spot in the group, whilst fellow county star Jason Duffy has been improving game by game.

The quarter-finals is where Cullyhanna’s run came to an end last season, but they’ll have aspirations of going all the way this year.

Whilst Cullyhanna have been listed as a contender from the start of the Championship, St Peter’s are one of the competition’s surprise packages.

Having been relegated from Division 1B, few would have predicted the Lurgan men to go on the run they have, but they’re full value for their place amongst the last eight.

They finished their league campaign with three straight wins – including a victory over Cullyhanna – and followed that up by toppling the fancied Silverbridge in Round One. They also gave Crossmaglen a mighty scare in Round Two, losing out by just a point.

But victory over Culloville last time out saw them secure their place in the quarter-finals. Look out for Ruairi McDonald and Niall McConville to take the fight to Cullyhanna.

Saturday September 20 (6.30pm): Crossmaglen v Carrickcruppen

It’s a south Armagh derby on Saturday evening, as Crossmaglen take on Carrickcruppen.

There’s a feel of ‘David v Goliath’ to this contest, as Cruppen won a knockout Senior Championship match for the first time since 2012 last weekend. In that time, Crossmaglen lifted the Gerry Fagan Cup eight times.

Crossmaglen missed out on a spot in the County final for the first time since 2017 last year, and they’ll want to get their hands back on the trophy which they’ve brought home 47 times.

They’ve a great chance of doing just that if Rian O’Neill keeps up his form, having scored an astonishing 0-14 against Silverbridge last time out, including five two-pointers.

Cross have been plagued by injuries this campaign, with Pearse Blessing ruled out for the rest of the year, whilst they’ve also been without Oisin O’Neill, Callum Cumiskey and Odhran Kieran. It’s understood that the Rangers are hopeful of having O’Neill back for this weekend, whilst team captain Cumiskey’s return is targeted for a potential semi-final.

For Carrickcruppen, like St Peter’s, they’re in bonus territory with nothing to lose and they’ll see Saturday’s game as a massive opportunity to test themselves against the best.

This year has been a wonderful learning curve for Barry Flynn’s side, with six teenagers playing regular Championship football. They got a baptism of fire in Round One, losing by 23 points against Clann Eireann, but bounced back in style with three wins on the bounce: against Armagh Harps, Dromintee and Granemore.

Eoin Woods is their talisman, whilst goalkeeper Blaine Hughes has deadeye accuracy from long-range free kicks. Who will mark Rian O’Neill that job may fall to 2024 Club All Star Oisin O’Hare, or tenacious defender Adam Matthews.

Sunday September 21 (5pm): Maghery v Madden

Maghery and Madden are two of the most battle-tested sides in the quarter-finals, after Maghery topped the ‘group of death’, whilst Madden came through the backdoor.

Maghery were at their best in Round One, with Kevin Robinson and Stefan Forker finding the mark in their win over Clan na Gael. They followed that up with defeat to Killeavy, but an impressive win away to Culloville in Round Three was enough for them to top Group A.

Ben Crealey is a key man in midfield, with Ciaran Higgins one of the most physically-imposing defenders in the county. The Loughshore men have experience in abundance, having lifted the Gerry Fagan Cup in 2016 and 2020, and nothing will phase them this weekend.

For Madden, they’ve been knocking at the door in recent seasons – having reached the semi-finals in 2023 and 2024 – and they’ll be hopeful that this is the year that they make the breakthrough.

Conor Grimley is the team’s talisman, with 0-22 on the board, whilst Niall Grimley is the team’s leader in midfield. Add in electric forwards Joe Sheridan and Darragh McMullen, and a defence which is giving up less than 12 points per game, and Mark Harte’s side will be hard stopped.

Since losing to Cullyhanna in Round One, they have been on a tear. They’ve defeated Pearse Ogs by 20 points, Mullaghbawn by 13 and Armagh Harps by 14.

Sunday September 21 (7pm): Clann Eireann v Killeavy

The Armagh CCC seemed to have the idea of leaving the best for last, as county champions Clann Eireann meet Division 1A league champions Killeavy in the last of the four quarter-finals.

Having lifted the Gerry Fagan Cup last year, Clann Eireann seem to have taken things up another gear this season and look to be favourites to keep their hands on the crown.

Ruairi Lavery has the luxury of strength in depth with players dipping in and out of the team during the group stages. However, the key men are still county stars Barry McCambridge, Tiernan Kelly and Conor Turbitt, with Sean McCarthy, Dan McCarthy, Daniel Magee and Emmet Magee making up the best ‘supporting cast’ of any team in Armagh.

Clann Eireann came into the competition as many people’s picks to win it, and they’ve not shown anything that would change people’s minds, as they comfortably topped their group with an average winning margin of 14 points.

However, they are unquestionably in for their toughest task yet, in Killeavy. If Clann Eireann strolled their way through the group stages to get here, Killeavy’s experience has been the polar opposite.

Steven McDonnell’s side lost in Round One against Culloville and were immediately on the back foot, despite coming from nine points down to defeat Maghery, they still needed everything in their arsenal in Round Three to see off Clan na Gael in stormy conditions at home, where a loss would have seen them eliminated.

Having made a habit of grinding out close games all 2025, Killeavy showed their class last weekend and made it a bit more comfortable of a watch for their supporters in a 10-point win over Mullaghbawn.

Eighteen-year-olds Fergal Boylan and Aron Magennis are the future of the club, but they are also the present. They combined for 1-10 in that win, with Magennis setting up Boylan’s goal.

Veteran Ciaron O’Hanlon has had a superb Championship campaign, whilst Gareth Murphy brings steel to the defence from centre half back.

Steven McDonnell’s men have been the great entertainers of Armagh football this year, but they’ll need something special to dethrone Clann Eireann on Sunday.

If they can, they might just become the new favourites to win lift Gerry Fagan Cup.